Drag Race Is Back, and the Eliminated Queen Deserved to Sashay Away

The arrival of every new edition of RuPaul’s Drag Race feels like the Super Bowl for the queer community. The show, which gathers drag queens from around the world to compete against each other in a reality competition that will test their “Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve, and Talent,” has grown its audience with each subsequent season. On nights when it airs live, bars across the country host viewing parties, and people of all backgrounds crowd around their TV screens to root for their favorite competitor. Yes, you can have your sports. We’re happy to have our queens.

Now, the queer classic is back for its third All Stars season (its 12th season overall), and the stakes are higher than ever. Though Drag Race’s reach has surely expanded in its nine year run — it was once unknown, yet now RuPaul’s striking visage can be seen on billboards in the middle of Times Square — it is still an uncharacteristically odd show; one that doesn’t adhere to the rules of others like it. With its wacky mini challenges and over-the-top maxi challenges, its celebration of playful meanness and relishing of celebrity impersonations, its fashion-forward runway shows and sooo emotional lip syncs, RuPaul’s Drag Race really is "the most radical show on TV."

Before we meet the newest All Stars contestants, we get a visit from former All Stars winners Alaska Thunderfuck and Chad Michaels, who put on their best Handmaid’s Tale drag to lament about the lives they thought they’d be living as winners. Well, so much for that. Finally, the new All Star queens enter the workroom. The pretty-in-pink Trixie Mattel comes in first (on roller skates, no less), followed by Milk, “Bayou Queen” Chi Chi DeVayne, and the always overzealous Thorgy Thor. Up next is Morgan McMichaels, Aja (with some “unfinished business”), season six’s Miss Congeniality BenDeLaCreme, Kennedy Davenport, and finally, back-for-the-third-time Shangela.

After the nine queens settle in, RuPaul makes his arrival and reveals that a surprise tenth queen will be joining them. No one is excited to hear that they have even more competition, but even I was shocked by what Ru had up his perfectly tailored sleeve. Suffice it to say, there has never been a more surprising queen to join a season since Shangela re-appeared in season three after getting eliminated in the first episode of season two. On her cue, Bebe Zahara Benet sashays into the workroom in classic “CAMEROOOOOON!” fashion. Given that she actually won her season, it’s hard to grapple with her Ru-turn to the competition. (Who does she need Ru-venge against if she already has a crown?) But RuPaul has an explanation, and it does make sense: Season one was an entirely different show, and many of the queens from that season (including Bebe, the winner) have not had the exposure that queens competing in later seasons have. Awwwwright.

Onto the mini challenge, and RuPaul has an announcement to make: “The library is open” and it’s time for the reading challenge, where queens take turns throwing lacerating-but-hilarious barbs at each other. Though this challenge is consistently one of the show’s most fun, it could have been better placed a little later in the competition, when the queens have had more time to warm up to one another. Sure, many of these queens know each other from the Drag Race touring circuit, but it’s always the sense of so-close-it-hurts familiarity with one another that makes this challenge so fun to watch. Unfortunately, that lack of familiarity is noticeable here, and the jokes just aren’t as funny as they would be coming from people who’ve spent the past few weeks living on top of each other. Nevertheless, there is one queen whose jokes are miles ahead of her competition’s. BenDeLaCreme is deservedly chosen as the winner.

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Unsurprisingly, the maxi challenge is similar to the opening challenge for All Stars 2, with RuPaul making the queens compete in an All Star Variety Show. All Stars is an opportunity for these queens to show off the skills they’ve picked up since being eliminated from their respective seasons, so why not make them show off some of that newly acquired talent right out the gate?

When it comes to the performances, some queens take expected paths — “The Dancing Diva” Kennedy Davenport dances like a diva, and Thorgy Thor plays the violin (quite beautifully) — while other queens take some unanticipated creative leaps (see: Bebe Zahara Benet’s African-inspired dance). BenDeLaCreme’s bra strip-tease is inventive and loads of fun, while other performances, like Milk’s paper doll “fashion” number leave a lot to be desired. With her hilariously alluring number, BenDeLaCreme lands in the top alongside Aja, whose high-energy voguing routine, complete with three outfit changes, wins over every single one of the judges — especially special guest judge of the week Vanessa Hudgens, who excitedly tells Aja, “I’m so into voguing right now, so that gave me life!” (A quote that rightfully elicited exasperated sighs from everyone at the bar where I was watching.)

Of course, since this is All Stars, Ben and Aja don’t get to relax after their wins, because rather than making the bottom two queens “Lip Sync for Your Life,” in All Stars, the top two queens are put head-to-head to “Lip Sync for Your Legacy.” Whoever comes out on top gets a “cash tip of $10,000” and gets to decide who in the bottom two gets sent home. The choice comes down to Morgan McMichaels, who failed to bring any energy to her Variety Show lip sync performance, and Chi Chi DeVayne, whose spirited marching band-inspired dance routine was undermined by the distracting beat-up jazz shoes she wore on the main stage.

Making for a fun entrance back to the season, the first lip sync song is Nicki Minaj’s "Anaconda" and both BenDeLaCreme and Aja seem to have the time of their lives performing the chart-topping single against each other. Ultimately, however, Ben’s wildly comedic interpretation grabs a little more of Ru’s attention and she was given the bittersweet responsibility of deciding who would be the first queen sent packing. After making a speech about her love for both of them, Ben sends Morgan McMichaels home, claiming that the L.A. queen’s eat-or-be-eaten attitude toward the competition would take away from the spirit of the game.

I can’t say that I’m sad to see Morgan McMichaels go. Don’t get me wrong — I love a capital-D Drama Queen just as much as the next reality show fanatic. But something about Morgan’s willingness to alienate herself for no apparent reason was off-putting, particularly this early in the season. As catty as the show can get, at the end of the day, it’s about sisterhood, and I just didn’t see that with Morgan. But, of course, RuPaul appears in the episode’s final minutes to let Morgan know that all may not be lost. So who knows? She could be joining the sisterhood again.

I think we’re in for an exciting few months!

Michael Cuby has always been a social media addict, but is now finally putting his vice to good use as the Community Manager for them. He is also a writer whose work has appeared in PAPER, Teen Vogue, VICE, and Flavorwire.

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